Voices for Social Justice is preparing for our first concert program this summer, and we would love to
have you involved as a singer! The program, Lay Down Your Weapons, speaks to the ways gun violence
impacts our youth communities and highlights the movements leading the push for gun reform in
our country. We are interested in your involvement in our youth choir, Voices Rising. The concert will
also include our adult choir and a pre-concert meal open to all community members.
Here is a rough outline of our schedule of events in order to prepare and present the concert. To
participate we would need your attendance at three of the four rehearsals and attendance at the
Dress Rehearsal and Concert. All of our rehearsals and the concert will take place at Los Altos United
Methodist Church in Long Beach.
Youth are an essential component of our conversation as they are one of the communities that are
severely impacted by the lack of gun control in our country. This program advocates for gun law
reform, universal background checks, stricter access & ownership regulation, and gun industry
accountability. Our biggest hope is that the students will leave this experience feeling empowered to
use their voice and knowing that music-making is one way to advocate for change. We understand
that these conversations have a substantial impact on young people. For this purpose, we will have a
mental health professional at the concert. During the rehearsals, students are encouraged to self-
advocate if they need to remove themselves from the space or take a break from the content. Our
Executive Director will also be attentive and will initiate student check-ins if they are displaying signs
of discomfort. As a creative team, it is important to us that we work collaboratively with parents and
guardians. In doing so, we will keep lines of communication open about how the material is being
received, and we will have a parent and guardian info session prior to the first rehearsal for all
interested in learning more about the program or to ask questions. The Executive Director will also be
available following each rehearsal to debrief with students and check-in with parents.
